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    "ThinkPad" branded WLAN cards, actual manufacturer?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by thinkpad knows best, May 9, 2010.

  1. thinkpad knows best

    thinkpad knows best Notebook Deity

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    I noticed Lenovo does not actually state the manufacturer of the "ThinkPad" WLAN cards offered on some ThinkPad configs, what company is the OEM?
     
  2. k2001

    k2001 Notebook Deity

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    The current batch are from Realtek, they use different brand for each revision. i.e. T400 use different manufacter
     
  3. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    Not necessarily. In as far as I know, the Tx00 generation "Thinkpad b/g" and "Thinkpad b/g/n" options were also Realtek cards.
     
  4. erik

    erik modifier

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    they're atheros, broadcom, or realtek depending on the FRU.
     
  5. Th1nkpad

    Th1nkpad Notebook Consultant

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    I'd pass on these cards. The realtek "thinkpad b/g/n" wireless card is garbage. I went on ebay and purchased an intel 5300 wifi instead to replace it.
     
  6. thinkpad knows best

    thinkpad knows best Notebook Deity

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    I heard they were... but i also heard there's no significant difference between them. What exactly made them "garbage"?
     
  7. k2001

    k2001 Notebook Deity

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    The linux support is iffy. Some manufactor are good at providing driver for linux, while other does not even try.
     
  8. Th1nkpad

    Th1nkpad Notebook Consultant

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    It's ridiculously hard to connect to WiFi on my university campus with the Thinkpad B/G/N in places where an iPod Touch would get signal just fine. The poor signal retention is also bundled with frequent disconnection.

    I believe the main cause for this is inferior hardware and poor driver support. If you're using Linux in any way shape or form, SKIP this wireless card because the drivers you have to compile on your own are MUCH worse than its Windows counterpart (which is also incredibly crappy).
     
  9. pi3guy

    pi3guy Notebook Consultant

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    I agree, if you are considering linux then pony up the extra cash for the intel card. I wish I had. Haven't gotten wireless to work with 10.04, if anyone has (with the realtek card), please post where you got the driver. Had to downgrade to 9.04 because of it and wasted half a day reinstalling my programs.

    however, in windows I get decent performance w/ realtek. At my university I get good detection, haven't found any places yet where its lacking.
     
  10. k2001

    k2001 Notebook Deity

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    pi3guy, when get into the live cd's try to wait for notification of proprietary driver, install the driver when you still in the live CD, then installed Ubuntu onto the laptop. That's how I solved my WIFI driver problem on S10-2, maybe that will work for you.